THE RETAIL SALES PICTURE FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR SHOWED A MIXED PERFORMANCE IN THE TRI CITIES. WHILE JOHNSON CITY SAW AN INCREASE IN THE DOLLAR VALUE, SALES IN KINGSPORT AND BRISTOL TOOK A DIVE. ACCORDING TO DR. STEB HIPPLE WITH EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, SALES INCREASED IN JOHNSON CITY 2.6 PERCENT, FELL IN BRISTOL THREE PERCENT AND DECREASED IN KINGSPORT 3.5 PERCENT……

CART….

HE SAID GASOLINE PRICES ARE FIGURED INTO THE RETAIL NUMBERS.